Movers and Shakers: Unlocking New Audiences Through Live Streaming

By | November 11, 2024

“Movers and Shakers” is a dynamic monthly column dedicated to exploring the latest trends, developments, and influential voices in the iGaming industry. Powered by GameOn and supported by HIPTHER, this op-ed series delves into the key players, emerging technologies, and regulatory changes shaping the future of online gaming. Each month, industry experts offer their insights and perspectives, providing readers with in-depth analysis and thought-provoking commentary on what’s driving the iGaming world forward. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or new to the scene, “Movers and Shakers” is your go-to source for staying ahead in the rapidly evolving iGaming landscape. 

 

At SGG Media, our focus has always been on staying ahead of the curve and providing the most cost-effective form of sports marketing in the iGaming industry.  We specialize in the micro-influencer space, believing this to be the key to unlocking a new generation of sports betting fans.

Of course, staying ahead of the curve is not as easy as it sounds. Part of this entails noticing the industry’s changes as they occur and being able to determine the difference between what will change the game and what is simply a passing trend.

One of our biggest focuses in recent years has been streaming and its emergence as an effective marketing tool in the sports and sports betting industries.

With Gen Z, we are seeing a new generation of sports fans emerge as a commercial force. These fans are defined by their need for fresh experiences, authentic interactions, and a sense of community, all three of which can be provided by live streaming, both by sports and by sports micro-influencers and content creators.

The constant thirst for new experiences is extremely powerful, and we have seen this in action with the emergence of new sports like Power Slap and Pickleball in the last few years. However, unlike major players like the Premier League or the NFL, these sports do not have huge TV deals and do not pack out stadiums week in and week out.

Instead, their events are often live-streamed, and their fans congregate online. A new way of consuming sports is emerging alongside these sports: in-person attendance is being replaced by live streams, while micro-influencers and content creators are replacing punditry and analysis.

SGG Media can send live, real-time, links to the shows from thousands of sports influencers, and their millions of avid sports fan followers, during the actual events – greatly increasing awareness and viewership as they click the link provide in the social media post. Additionally, SGG Media can send social media real-time updates, notifying fans that events are about to start- and tell the fans what channels or platforms they can find the event on. Its easy for fans to lose track of when events are starting and where they can find the event. Social media – in real time – can solve this problem.

What these sports also rely on to succeed is a huge sense of community. Nothing brings people together quite like a shared interest in a niche sport, and live streams have become an excellent platform for nurturing these communities and allowing them to grow organically. The micro-influencers and content creators managing these streams essentially become hosts for giant online discussions and interactions.

From a marketing perspective, this creates a huge opportunity for sports and sports betting businesses. Finding a way into these communities is often extremely difficult, which is where SGG Media can step in. Our network of over 2,200 micro-influencers can provide businesses with access to over 72 million sports fans, as well as countless online communities focused on individual sports and sports teams.

At SGG Media, we believe we can provide unparalleled access to online communities of sports fans at an extremely cost-effective price. Micro-influencers and live-streamers are the present and the future of digital sports marketing, and our network boasts unrivaled access to thousands of them.

Our goal has also been to make this accessible to as many small and medium-sized businesses as possible. Earlier this year, we launched our Instant Quote platform. This allows interested parties to enter information about their business and their marketing budget and to be provided with a quote for a marketing plan.

We believe the emergence of these niche sports and their online communities will only accelerate in the coming years, as will the effectiveness of live streaming as a marketing tool for reaching them.

For many years, online sports betting has been a solitary experience, but this is changing rapidly. Understanding the needs of a new generation and how to effectively market to them is essential for any sports betting business that wants to succeed.

Authenticity is also a key issue we seek to address at SGG Media. For years, the sports marketing landscape has been dominated by endorsements from major celebrities and huge influencers. Both of these endorsements are extremely costly, further lifting the barrier to entry for small—to medium-sized businesses.

New sports fans, particularly Gen Z, have grown up in a world full of these adverts, and it’s fair to say cynicism is at an all-time high. These extremely expensive methods are not as effective as they once were.

This is where micro-influencers and live-streamers come into their own. They share their authentic experiences with their communities, providing an extremely effective and honest form of marketing. At SGG Media, we have observed that aligning brands with micro-influencers and streamers who have a mutual love for sports leads to meaningful connections with like-minded audiences. This strategy allows businesses to engage with individuals who share their values and are genuinely interested in their offerings.

The significance of this is especially relevant with niche sports, as sports betting operators may find it challenging to promote such sports through traditional marketing methods. These sports often have unique requirements and attract specific interests. Therefore, having the ability to directly connect with these niche sports communities holds immense value from a marketing standpoint.

SGG Media has always been about changing the game, and we believe that micro-influencer marketing, live streams, and the emergence of new sports are doing exactly that. We strive to be at the forefront of this change and want to ensure that our clients and partners are with us every step of the journey.

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